Merchandise display tray



1933- J. M. KAUFMAN MERCHANDISE DISPLAY TRAY Fi led March 31, 1933 g .fi i 1 J Patented Get. 24, 1933 Jacob M. Kaufman, Detroit,

American Show Case & ltllanufacturing pany, a corporation of Michigan Mich, assignor to application March 31, 1933. Serial'No. 663,761 ZClaims. (01. 312-149 The present invention pertains to a novel adjustable tray or counter of a type particularly adapted for receiving and displaying articles of merchandise. 3

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a display tray or counter having partitions arranged and supported in a manner to divide the tray into a plurality of compartments suitable for receiving various articles of merchandise, the partitions being supported by means which facilitate easy and quick adjustment so that the same tray may be readily adapted for displaying articles of merchandise of various sizes and shapes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tray or counter that includes a base, preferably formed of sheet metal with a double corresponding series of retaining .means, preferably formed by striking out portions of flanges that are formed on opposite sides of the base, the loops being provided to receive partition supporting members that are arranged in opposed sets of retaining means to receive a partition member and support the same so that it extends transversely and perpendicularly relative to the base. Any desired number of corresponding retaining means may be provided and the partition supporting members may be inserted in any selected set of the same to support the partition at'any selected point, the particular set of retaining means that is selected being determined by the size of the compartment required.

With the above and other ends in view'the invention consists in matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out inthe ap pended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a fragmentary top plan View;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross section illustrating the tray in cross section, and

Fig. 3 is a cross section illustrating the partition supporting member assembled in the base.

Like characters of reference are employed throughout to designate corresponding parts.

The numeral ldesignates a flat, horizontal portion of a base member, preferably formed of sheet metal with flanges 2 depending from opposite sides thereof, the flanges extending the entire length of the base in parallel spaced relation whereby said base may be described as of an inverted channel form. The lower extremities of the flanges are turned inwardly as at 3 to rest upon a supporting surface (not shown) such as a tableor counter. As illustrated the two flanges 2 are of equal length, that is to say the two inturned portions 3 are spaced an equal dis tance from the flatportion 1 and therefore when the two inturned portions are placed on top of a flat, horizontal supporting surface they maintain the portion 1 of. the base in a horizontal posi- 0' tion. If the two inturned portions 3 are placed on an inclined surface they support the portion 1 of the base in an inclined position. It is obvious that one or other of the side flanges 2 may be lengthened, if desired, so that one of the inturned portions 3 is spaced a greater distance than the other from the fiat portion 1, in which case the fiat portion 1 is supported in an inclined position.

At spaced intervals the flanges 2 are struck 7 inwardly to form loops a, the loops in opposite flanges being arranged to correspond one with another. Directly above each loop i and in the angle of the base member is formed an aperture 5. A plurality of substantially U-shaped members 6 are provided with their medial portions 6a extended downward to form tongues '7 and in assembling one of the members on the base the tongue '7 is inserted through one of the apertures 5 so that the lower end thereof is received in the corresponding loop i, in which position the U-shaped part 6 of the member rests on top of the flat portion 1 of the base. The tongue is ofiset inwardly of the said U-shaped part of the member at Ya whereby, when in position, the medial portion 6a, is positioned in a plane common to the flanges 2.

As described above the loops 4 in opposite flanges are directly opposite each other with the apertures 5 corresponding in like manner. Therefore any opposed set of apertures may be selected and the tongues 7 of a pair of U-shaped members inserted therein, so that said pair of supporting members are mounted. directly opposite each other on the base, in which position a partition 8 is mounted on the base by inserting the ends of the partition in the U-shaped portion of the said members. The partition 8 is thus held in a vertical position and extending transversely all. the way across the base 1. Any desired number of partitions may thus be mounted on the base, at regularly or irregularly spaced intervals as illustrated in Fig. 1. Side walls 9 are provided to complete the tray, and to extend upwardly at right angles relative to the portion 1 of the base and in a plane at right angles relative to the partitions 8. The offset nature of the said tongues permits the ends of the partitions to be brought into closer proximity to the side wall 9 than would be otherwise possible. Inasmuch as 1 the present invention relates to the partition supporting means no particular mechanism has been shown for supporting the sidewalls 9, it being understood that any means known in the art may be employed.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated, and described it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims, and such changes are contemplated.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described including a base in the form of an inverted shallow channel having integral depending flanges on opposite sides thereof, said base having a plurality of apertures formed in the angles of said base member adjacent said flanges, partition-supporting memadjacent said flanges, partition supporting members each having a U-shaped portion including a back portion and side portions, a tongue forming an integral extension of said back portion, said tongue being inwardly offset at its junction with said back portion, and loops formed inwardly of said flanges adjacent said apertures and receiving the tongues of said partition-supporting members.

JACOB M. KAUFMAN.

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